- 1942 - A "graduate division" was established - graduate courses offered by ASU but degrees awarded by UNC
- 1943 - A graduate council was made of D.J. Whitener, H.R. Eggers, and Chapell Wilson
- 1948 - Graduate School established to offer and award Appalachian’s first graduate degree (Masters of Arts in Education)
- 1954 - F. Ray Derrick and Herbert Wey are added to the council
- 1955 - Chapell Wilson is listed as the first Dean of the Graduate School
- 1957 - Herbert Wey takes over as dean when Chapell Wilson dies
- 1958 - Cratis D. Williams becomes dean and serves until 1975
- 1975 - Richard Rupp takes over as dean and serves until 1979
- 1979 - Ron Tuttle serves as interim dean until 1981
- 1981 - Joyce Lawrence becomes dean and serves until 1997
- 1997 - Judith Domer becomes dean and serves until 2004
- 2004 - Lorin Baumhover serves as interim dean until 2005
- 2005 - Edelma Huntley becomes dean and serves until 2014
- 2014 - Max Poole becomes dean and serves until 2018
- 2018 - Mike McKenzie becomes dean and serves until 2021
- 2021 - Marie Hoepfl becomes interim dean